Car-coupling



(No Model.)

* J. T. FRIEND.

CAR GOUPLING.

No. 456,809. Patented July 28, 1891.

31400/141301/ Lf07z7a Z" atto/mn Nlliurrnn STATESPATENT OFFICE.

'JOHN T. FRIEND, OF IRVINE, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,809, dated July 28, 1891. Application filed December 3l, 1890. Serial No. 376,319. (No model.)

To @ZZ 107mm it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. FRIEND, a citizen of the United States, residingat Irvine, in the countyot Estill, State ot Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specitication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car-couplings; and it has for its Objectis, among` others, to provide an improved device of this character which shall be automatic in its action and which shall be composed ot` few parts and those readily applied to cars of ordinary construetion. I provide a hook-shaped mouth to the draw-head and pivot a gravity coupling rod or arm to engage the same. The said coupling-rod normally stands substantially vertical and is designed to be thrown into a horizontal position upon contact of the drawheads. Means are provided for coupling or uncoupling from the top of the car.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claim.

The invention in the present instance resides in the peculiarcombinations and the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown inthe drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, forma part of this specication, and in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through portions ot two cars provided with my improved coupler. Fig. 2 is an end View of a portion of one of the cars.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in beth views.

Referring new lo the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the end portions of two cars, and B the draw-heads thereof. These draw-heads are provided with the usual springs C, arranged in the ordinary manner, the said springs being designed to be compressed as the draw-heads are brought into contact as the cars approach each other. The mouths of the draw-lieads are formed with innig. i.

wardly-extending chambers a to permit of the use thereof with the ordinary link and Y 4 E at its outer end, and the pin-opening extends through this extension, as shown at the right of Fig. l. These extensions terminate in rearwardly-extending hooks F above the upper face ol' the draw-head proper, as seen more clearly in Eig. l.. The point of the hook overhangs, so as to prevent vertical displacement of the coupling arm or elevis when the cars are coupled.

G is the coupling` arm or clevis, which is substantially U-shaped, as shown in Eig. 2, being pivotally connected with the draw-head by means of a transverse pin d, the said arm being` arranged to normally stand in substantially a Vertical position, as seen in Fig. l, being supported against the front end ot the car. As the cars come in contact, the drawheads are forced inward and the couplingarms are thrown down into a horizontal position, and the springs then force the drawheads outward, when the said draw-heads Will be separated slightly and the cross-bars ofthe coupling-arms engage the hooks of the drawheads beneath the overhanging portions th ereof and the cars are coupled.

The dotted lines in Fig. movements of the coupling-arms in the act of coupling. I may sometimes attach a chain Il to the coupling-arm, so that the cars may be uncoupled from the top of the car.

In order to limit the inward movement of the draw-head and to give a sudden jar thereto, so as to be sure that the coupling-arm will fall when the carscome together, I provide a lug 7L on the under side ot' the draw-head, which is designed to engage a fixed piece 7e on the under side of the car, as clearly seen in Should either of the coupling-arms break, the other wouls hold the cars together, and thus there isdouble security against accidental uncoupling or breaking away ot the cars.

That I claim as new is.

The improved car coupling herein del illustrate the IOO scribed, Consisting of the spring-actuated draw-head formed with integral lug 71, upon the undei side and with the mouth out away, as at c, and formed with chamber a, Vertical extension E, with vertical pin-opening i) extending through the extension and chamber, the rear face of the extension above the upper face of the draw-head proper terminating in reai\va1d1y-extendi11g hook F, and the U- shaped coupling-arm pivotahy connected to the draw-head substantiail y ovei` the said lug',

and provided with a lateral piu or extension Substantially near the centei` of its heightfor the attachment of a chai n or oord and adapted for use with a draw-head ot' similar construetion, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I a'x my signature in presence of two witnesses. 

